View from the top + Professional development | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/series/view-from-the-top+professional-development
model.DotcomContentType$TagIndex$@4e2324b9en-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2018Mon, 19 Mar 2018 13:46:40 GMT2018-03-19T13:46:40Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2018The Guardianhttps://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttps://www.theguardian.com
What is the value of the Commonwealth to average citizens?https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/apr/28/kamalesh-sharma-commonwealth-empowerment-strategies
Secretary general Kamalesh Sharma talks about leading his organisation through change, good governance and why all civilisations have suffered for not giving women equal status<p><strong>You have served in a number of diplomatic roles; what attracted you to this type of leadership?</strong></p><p>I suppose it is a personality trait, perhaps nurtured during my literature studies. I also believe in what loosely can be called universalism, which means we should strive for universal values – those that unite us all. So my life has been very much devoted to promoting international relations in a positive and creative way. I have served as an officer in the Indian Foreign Service, been an ambassador to Geneva, and I spent two years as the former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan's special representative to East Timor. Currently I am six years into an eight-year term at the Secretariat.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/apr/28/kamalesh-sharma-commonwealth-empowerment-strategies">Continue reading...</a>Working in developmentIndiaPolicy and advocacyWomenEmploymentGlobal developmentProfessional developmentLeadershipWork & careersMon, 28 Apr 2014 16:32:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/apr/28/kamalesh-sharma-commonwealth-empowerment-strategiesPhotograph: PRThe secretary general says the Commonwealth promotes democracy, economic development, good governance, social development and youth empowerment.Photograph: PRThe secretary general says the Commonwealth promotes democracy, economic development, good governance, social development and youth empowerment.Natricia Duncan2014-04-28T16:32:00Z83% of EU citizens still think that it's important to help developing countrieshttps://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/feb/21/seamus-jefferson-concord-ngo
Have European NGOs weathered the economic storm? Seamus Jeffreson, director of NGO network Concord, talks to us about aid and the persisting challenge of speaking with one voice<p><strong>You have worked in the international development sector for more than 20 years, why did you get into humanitarian work?</strong></p><p>I had my first brush with activism while still at university in Liverpool, when I became involved with the antiapartheid movement. My passion for change took me to South Africa around the time of Mandela's election – where I worked for the <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm" title="">European commission</a> office, before returning to Europe and becoming engaged with development from a European angle.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/feb/21/seamus-jefferson-concord-ngo">Continue reading...</a>Working in developmentProfessional developmentPolicy and advocacyAusterityCharitiesPovertyGlobal developmentMillennium development goalsEuropeEuropean UnionAidCharitable givingFri, 21 Feb 2014 16:09:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/feb/21/seamus-jefferson-concord-ngoPhotograph: Concord'A good leader listens to their colleagues and helps them keep perspective,' says Seamus Jeffreson. Photograph: ConcordPhotograph: Concord'A good leader listens to their colleagues and helps them keep perspective,' says Seamus Jeffreson. Photograph: ConcordNatricia Duncan2014-02-21T16:09:00Z'Keep perspective – you can't follow the messianic dream of helping everyone'https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/oct/25/deaf-blind-people-sense-international
James Thornberry, director of Sense International, talks about campaigning for the rights of deafblind people and why good leaders should keep their expectations small<p><strong>Before joining </strong><a href="http://www.senseinternational.org.uk/" title=""><strong>Sense International</strong></a><strong> (SI), you worked at major organisations including Médecins Sans Frontières and the UK's Department for International Development. Could you tell us about your work over those 18 years?</strong></p><p>I started with MSF on my 30th birthday in March 1993, and worked in the emergency team in Holland for over six years. My role was to respond within 24 hours to humanitarian emergencies, which entailed doing an initial assessment to determine the kind of intervention that I believed MSF ought to be carrying out, writing the proposal, getting the team in and then managing them until the end of the project.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/oct/25/deaf-blind-people-sense-international">Continue reading...</a>Working in developmentHealthSocietyDisabilityBlindness and visual impairmentDeafness and hearing impairmentGlobal developmentUgandaWorld newsAfricaProfessional developmentLeadershipFri, 25 Oct 2013 15:19:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/oct/25/deaf-blind-people-sense-internationalPhotograph: Public DomainJames Thornberry has worked in countries hit by civil wars, epidemics and faminesPhotograph: Public DomainJames Thornberry has worked in countries hit by civil wars, epidemics and faminesCharlotte Lytton2013-10-25T15:19:00ZOxfam: we want to represent the next 50 years, not the last 50https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/sep/05/oxfam-mark-goldring-development-beyond-aid
Mark Goldring reflects on his new job as Oxfam's chief executive and on the challenges of moving development beyond aid<p>I so nearly didn't apply for the job. It wasn't that I didn't want it; far from it, I'd dreamt of it 20 years before when I managed Oxfam's work in Bangladesh; a role that felt like running the ultimate relief and development learning outfit. What inhibited me was I didn't have any easy answers and I was convinced there were cleverer people out there who did. Well, if there were such people, they obviously didn't convince Oxfam's board and, to my surprise and excitement, I started as chief executive in May. So what have I found since?</p><p>Perhaps the biggest change I've noticed is the recognition that development is no longer just, or even primarily, about aid. Yes aid is important but the need to change the rules of the game, to ensure local communities have a real say in decisions that affect them and the role of the private sector in development are all now rightly given greater prominence than they were two decades ago. As a result, the way that programmes and advocacy, national and global, are supported and joined up has moved on a long way.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/sep/05/oxfam-mark-goldring-development-beyond-aid">Continue reading...</a>Working in developmentLeadershipPolicy and advocacyProfessional developmentVoluntary Sector NetworkVoluntary sector network blogAidSocietyBlogGlobal developmentCharitiesThu, 05 Sep 2013 11:26:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/sep/05/oxfam-mark-goldring-development-beyond-aidPhotograph: OxfamAn Oxfam banner in Guildford, Surrey, in 1959 for its refugee appeal. Photograph: OxfamPhotograph: OxfamAn Oxfam banner in Guildford, Surrey, in 1959 for its refugee appeal. Photograph: OxfamMark Goldring2013-09-05T11:26:00Z'I knew I had to change the mindset that ambassadors should be men'https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/aug/30/malawi-ambassador-chrissie-mughogho
Chrissie Mughogho, former Malawian ambassador, tells us what she's learned working in the male-dominated world of diplomacy<p><strong>You served as an ambassador to Zambia and India, from 2005 to 2012. Tell us what that entailed<br></strong><br>I was an academic teaching at the university, but the system in Malawi is that you can always second somebody to government to serve in another capacity. In 2005 I was the dean at the faculty of applied sciences, and we had a meeting with government officials. I was made Malawi's ambassador to Zambia in the same year.</p><p>When I was serving in Zambia, I was also accredited to other countries including Angola. While I was there I also served as Malawi's representative for the <a href="http://www.comesa.int/" title="">common market for east and southern Africa from 2005 – 2010</a>. My colleague in Delhi in India was transferred to the UN so I was asked to go to serve as ambassador of Malawi in India from 2010 – 2012.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/aug/30/malawi-ambassador-chrissie-mughogho">Continue reading...</a>Working in developmentMalawiWorld newsWomenGenderAfricaProfessional developmentFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/aug/30/malawi-ambassador-chrissie-mughoghoPhotograph: Chrissie MughoghoFormer Malawian ambassador Chrissie Mughogho. Photograph: Chrissie MughoghoPhotograph: Chrissie MughoghoFormer Malawian ambassador Chrissie Mughogho. Photograph: Chrissie MughoghoCharlotte Lytton2013-08-30T15:30:00Z'The Brics have a very serious claim on IMF and World Bank leadership'https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/jul/26/brics-world-bank-imf-nelson-mandela
Former World Bank president James Wolfensohn talks about his time in office, the future of development and why we can all learn from Nelson Mandela<p><strong>In your autobiography, A Global Life, you write about growing up with financial insecurity. How does one go from that life to becoming the president of the World Bank in 1995?</strong></p><p>I'm Australian but came to study in the US. It was during this time that I realised the world was much bigger than I thought and if I was going to live a full life I needed to know about places outside of the west. It didn't take a genius to go from that point to thinking about development.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/jul/26/brics-world-bank-imf-nelson-mandela">Continue reading...</a>Working in developmentTransforming institutionsDevelopment financeLeadershipProfessional developmentBricsWorld BankAidInternational Monetary Fund (IMF)Fri, 26 Jul 2013 15:35:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/jul/26/brics-world-bank-imf-nelson-mandelaPhotograph: Toby Melville/REUTERSJames Wolfensohn: 'An understanding of humanity is more important than an understanding of finance.’ Reuters/Toby MelvillePhotograph: Toby Melville/REUTERSJames Wolfensohn: 'An understanding of humanity is more important than an understanding of finance.’ Reuters/Toby MelvilleHolly Young2013-07-26T15:35:00Z'India could not have economic growth without quality universal education'https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/may/10/madhav-chavan-pratha-interview
We speak to Madhav Chavan, CEO of Indian NGO Pratham, about moving policy from school attendance to quality of education, and the impact of a communist upbringing<p><strong>Firstly, tell us what Pratham does?</strong></p><p><a href="http://pratham.org.uk/">Pratham</a> was set up in 1994 and has been working as a tripartite partnership between the government, the corporate sector and citizens to try to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the government school system in India. We do this firstly with our national survey - <a href="http://www.pratham.org/M-19-3-Read-India.aspx" title="">ASER</a> - which measures the learning levels of a sample of 600,000 children between the ages of 6-14. The second part is our flagship <a href="http://www.pratham.org/M-18-3-Read-India.aspx" title="">Read India</a> programme which aims to improve reading and basic arithmetic skills. Our hope is that by measuring and addressing the impact of the education system we will lay the foundation for further transformation.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/may/10/madhav-chavan-pratha-interview">Continue reading...</a>Working in developmentPolicy and advocacyLeadershipProfessional developmentGlobal developmentEducationUniversal primary educationLiteracyIndiaWorld newsPovertyFri, 10 May 2013 11:48:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/may/10/madhav-chavan-pratha-interviewPhotograph: Pratham Education FoundationMadhav Chavan, president of Indian NGO Pratham. Photograph: Pratham Education FoundationPhotograph: Pratham Education FoundationMadhav Chavan, president of Indian NGO Pratham. Photograph: Pratham Education FoundationHolly Young2013-05-10T11:48:00Z'If you produce information and it's not used for policy, it is useless'https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/mar/11/gora-mboup-un-habitat-interview
We speak to Gora Mboup, chief of UN-Habitat's Global Urban Observatory, about his career and the rising importance of urban planning<p><strong>Where did your interest in development begin and how has it led to where you are today?</strong></p><p>I have been working in development for the past 20 years. Before that, I was a statistician and mathematician but my PhD supervisor who was a sociologist encouraged me to consider the social aspects in my demography research, not just the numbers. Since then I have sought to combine these two aspects in my career. Later, health also became central to my research.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/mar/11/gora-mboup-un-habitat-interview">Continue reading...</a>Working in developmentProfessional developmentCities and developmentGlobal developmentUrbanisationWorld newsMon, 11 Mar 2013 13:11:36 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/mar/11/gora-mboup-un-habitat-interviewPhotograph: LSE/public domainDr Gora Mboup speaking at the Urban Age conference in Hong Kong, 2011. Photograph: LSE Cities / Urban AgePhotograph: LSE/public domainDr Gora Mboup speaking at the Urban Age conference in Hong Kong, 2011. Photograph: LSE Cities / Urban AgeHolly Young2013-03-11T13:11:36ZView from the top: Q&A with Marinke van Riethttps://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/feb/21/marinke-van-riet-publish-what-you-pay
The international director of Publish What You Pay on transparency, accountability and becoming more of a realist<p><strong>What does Publish What You Pay (PWYP) do?</strong></p><p>We are a global coalition of over 650 civil society organisations that campaigns for transparency and accountability in the extractive industry. We believe that natural resources can bring about a transformation to society if they are managed well.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/feb/21/marinke-van-riet-publish-what-you-pay">Continue reading...</a>Working in developmentProfessional developmentLeadershipGlobal developmentTransparencyWork & careersMoneyThu, 21 Feb 2013 15:53:50 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/feb/21/marinke-van-riet-publish-what-you-payPhotograph: Publish What You Pay/PublicInternational director of Publish What You Pay, Marinke van Riet Photograph: Publish What You Pay/PublicPhotograph: Publish What You Pay/PublicInternational director of Publish What You Pay, Marinke van Riet Photograph: Publish What You Pay/PublicHolly Young2013-02-21T15:53:50ZView from the top: Q&A with Simon Tracehttps://www.theguardian.com/guardian-professional/2013/jan/08/simon-trace-practical-action-interview
The chief executive of Practical Action talks about his career and what it takes to lead a global charity that uses technology to challenge poverty<p><strong>How long have you worked in development and how did it lead to what you do now?</strong></p><p>I've worked in development since I left university in 1982. I worked for VSO for a couple of years before moving to WaterAid. I'm a chartered engineer by training and my career's always had engineering and technology running through it. I also did a masters in anthropology and development at Soas [the School of Oriental and African Studies], which gave me much more insight into social issues. I wanted to try and balance that with my technology side.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-professional/2013/jan/08/simon-trace-practical-action-interview">Continue reading...</a>Working in developmentProfessional developmentLeadershipCharitiesGlobal developmentVoluntary sectorTue, 08 Jan 2013 11:36:44 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/guardian-professional/2013/jan/08/simon-trace-practical-action-interviewPhotograph: PRSimon Trace, chief executive of Practical ActionPhotograph: PRSimon Trace, chief executive of Practical ActionJo Adetunji2013-01-08T11:36:44Z